The Proper Girl

Chapter 10

Miranda's pov

I woke up when the sound of a ruler hitting a desk startled me. My heart almost stopped as I looked around the room. Girls. In desks doing work. I looked at the blackboard. The scrawly words I will obey my elders. A very ticked Mrs. Pennywise stood in front of it. "You will never get anywhere with handwriting like this." She shouts. I shakily stand up, terror screaming through me. "No." I whimper. "Do it all again!" She says. I scream the word, petrified. "Do it all again!" She repeats walking over and grabbing my arm. "NO!!!! NO! NOOOOO!!" Suddenly her arm vanishes and the room fades away to reveal my caring boyfriend looking frightened. "N-No." I whimper, unable to breathe. "It was just a dream." He says hugging me. It was the realest dream I've ever had. I break down in sobs, shaking and exhausted by the time I'm done. But too scared to go back to sleep. I grip his shirt relentlessly. "I c-can't g-go b-back there." I shakily murmur. "Never, baby." He says, rubbing my back gently. "I'll die before I let them take you back there." I'm so scared. And I don't know why. We're far away from that dreadful place. Jason will protect me. "Why am I so scared?" I whimper, feeling hot tears in my eyes. "PTSD." He whispers. I sit up, caught off guard and stare at him. "W-What?" "PTSD." He says again. "Post traumatic stress disorder. That place traumatized you." "Just another thing that makes me fucked up." He smiles weakly. "Just another thing we've got in common." Huh? "You... You've got PTSD?" He nods. "Ever since dad died. I... I never got over it. I have flashbacks all the time. Moments thinking I coulda done something. I coulda stopped him or I dunno saved him. But there wasn't anything I could have done." I'm shocked. This poor man. This poor misunderstood misguided man. "You're gonna be alright." He says, making me smile. "As long as I got you." I say hugging him.

*Later*

We were riding on a train. I watched him as he watched the world outside, his hair blowing in the wind. His determined steely gaze. He suddenly looks my way, making me jump. "I thought I felt someone watching me." He says smiling. I glare at him with a smile too. Then I walk over and sit beside him, both our feet dangling out of the traincar. "Where are we gonna go?" I ask, lacing my fingers with his. He smiles. "Wherever we want to I suppose." He says, looking down at me. "Where do ya wanna go?" "I don't care." I say, stealing a kiss from the redneck romeo. "Me either baby." He whispers against my lips.